Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes State and local governments to enter into group purchasing agreement for advanced technology vehicles and alternative fueled vehicles.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the purchase of advanced technology vehicles and alternative fueled vehicles, and supplementing P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-6 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury may enter into a group purchasing agreement with any local government unit in the State and any independent authority or agency in the State for the purchase of advanced technology vehicles or alternative fueled vehicles. A group purchasing agreement shall allow the jurisdictions which are parties thereto to standardize and combine their requirements for the purchase of advanced technology vehicles or alternative fueled vehicles into a single contract solicitation which shall be competitively bid and awarded by the State on behalf of jurisdictions participating in the agreement.
b. The director may purchase advanced technology vehicles or alternative fueled vehicles through a contract awarded pursuant to a group purchasing agreement whenever the director determines this to be the most cost-effective method of procurement. Prior to entering into any contract to be awarded through a group purchasing agreement, the director shall review and approve the specifications and proposed terms and conditions of the contract.
c. The director may solicit bids and award contracts on behalf of the State and the other jurisdictions that are parties to a group purchasing agreement provided that the agreement specifies that each jurisdiction participating in a contract is solely responsible for the payment of the purchase price and cost of purchases made by it under the terms of any contract awarded pursuant to the agreement.
d. The director may adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to implement this section.
e. As used in this section:
"Advanced technology vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is a hybrid electric vehicle, a fuel cell-powered vehicle, a dual fuel vehicle, or any motor vehicle that operates primarily on alternative fuel but has been determined to not be an alternative fuel vehicle by the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy.
"Alternative fuel" means any non-petroleum based fuel such as methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols; any mixture containing 85% or more by volume of methanol, denatured ethanol and other alcohols, or fuels other than alcohol derived from animal, biological or vegetable materials, with gasoline and other fuels, including, but not limited to, certain blends of biodiesel; fuel other than alcohol derived from animal, biological or vegetable materials not mixed with gasoline or other fuels; natural gas, propane, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, coal-derived liquid fuels, electricity, and any other fuel designated by the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy as an alternative fuel. The term "alternative fuel" shall not include the reformulated gasoline required to be sold pursuant to the federal "Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990," 42 U.S.C. s.7401 et seq., or any fuel that is more than 15% petroleum-based by volume.
"Alternative fueled vehicle" means a motor vehicle capable of operating primarily on alternative fuel, but shall not mean an advanced technology vehicle. The term "alternative fueled vehicle" includes any motor vehicle, except for an advanced technology vehicle, that has the capability of operating on either alternative fuel or gasoline; any vehicle that does not have a tank for gasoline and can operate only on alternative fuel; and any type of vehicle designated an alternative fuel vehicle by federal law or the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury to enter into a group purchasing agreement with any local government unit in the State and any independent authority or agency in the State for the purchase of advanced technology vehicles or alternative fueled vehicles. A group purchasing agreement would allow the jurisdictions which are parties thereto to standardize and combine their requirements for the purchase of advanced technology vehicles or alternative fueled vehicles into a single contract solicitation which would be competitively bid and awarded by the State on behalf of jurisdictions participating in the agreement.